A primary school in North Dorset is celebrating a double win.
Hazelbury Bryan Primary School near Sturminster Newton has been named 2024's Primary School of the Year in the Pearson National Teaching Awards for "making a difference" to its pupils.
The school received a special recognition letter from celebrated author Michael Morpurgo, president of Pearson National Teaching Awards.
The letter read: “The work you do day in, day out is life enhancing and life changing.
“It is also hard and exhausting – I know that, I’ve done it. But I know it can be hugely rewarding too.”
He added: “You open doors, shine a light. You spend your working life passing on to children all that you know and love."
The school also been recognised officially as an "outstandingly happy school", after taking part in the Art of Brilliance scheme last year which aims to create a positive, happy learning environment for pupils.
It has subsequently been awarded a gold standard for its efforts in the scheme.
A spokesperson for the school said: "We have an abundance of evidence to showcase what we do to create a positive, happy learning environment for our children, with a focus on wellbeing and mental health.
"We are dedicated to ensuring that we provide opportunities outside of the “normal” curriculum to help our children build independence, resilience, kindness, courage, respect and responsibility, to have gratitude and bouncebackability and promote happiness."
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